Jamie Arpin-Ricci's Blog, page 3

Zombies, Corona and Fear of Death

From “The Walking Dead” to “Black Mirror” to “The Handmaid’s Tale”, our appetite for all things dystopian seems to know no limits. Drawn to every imaginable dark possibility for humanity seems to have found rich soil in our collective imagination. It’s not unprecedented, to be sure. Our fascination with our shared demise has long been part of our social fabric but we have literally made it an art-form in recent years.

I have to acknowledge my own fascination with the genre. Even a decade in...

Why Being LGBTQ+ Affirming Is Not Enough

In his monumental book “How To Be An Anti-Racist”, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi made a powerful distinction of language around the topic of racism when he asserted:

“What’s the problem with being ‘not racist’? It is a claim that signifies neutrality: ‘I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.’ But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of ‘racist’ isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘antiracist.’”

Going on to brilliantly unpack this concept throughout the book,...

Why Silence Harms LGBTQ+ Christians

When I first came out as gay as a teenager (and later more accurately as bisexual/pansexual), I made a point to tell people that I did not accept my orientation as a point of faith. Unlike today, where I am fully affirming, at the time I could not reconcile my faith and sexual orientation. And in truth, I also knew that to do so would end my place in the only community of faith that I had ever known. I was sure that, as long as I made it clear that I held to “traditional beliefs” on the...

A Game Of Chance: The Life & Death Reality of Coming Out Queer & Christian

(Content Advisory: The following article includes conversations around suicide. )

With the advantage of hindsight, it might seem obvious to some people that I was never destined to be a dyed-in-the-wool straight guy. When I tell my queer friends today that even as a young kid I hated sports, loved musical theatre, and watched ‘The Golden Girls’ religiously, they exchange knowing glances that scream “Denial!” I know they jest, but I generally wave them off. After all, stereotypes are...

Out of the Quiet: Coming Out as an Affirming Queer Christian

“Sometimes, when you don’t see yourself in the world, you start to think that you don’t exist.” -DeRay Mckesson

I was watching my ten-year-old son play soccer when the call came.

It was from a friend and fellow missionary with Christian missions organization I had served with for more than half my life and where my friend served in regional leadership. Having spent a couple of years as his assistant after asking him to mentor me, I was pleased to see his name on the caller ID. Now living in...

No More: Jean Vanier & the Epidemic of Violence Against Women

When I received the email, I was thrilled beyond words: Jean Vanier had agreed to write the foreword to my book, “Vulnerable Faith”. For over fifteen years the life and teachings of this Catholic philosopher and theologian had been pivotal in my own spiritual formation, especially with respect to the importance of community. So when he agreed to write the foreword to my book about the centrality of vulnerability in the formation of true community, it was the pinnacle of my writing career.

All...

BIG NEWS! A New Phase in Ministry

There is some fairly big news that we are excited to share with you. Starting in January 2020, our family is going to be shifting our existing ministries under new “umbrella”. While we have been blessed to be part of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) community for 25 years, we are excited to be bringing our ministry and programs to Global Youth Volunteer Network (GYVN). GYVN was founded and is led by one of YWAM Canada’s national leaders, so we have a lot of existing relationship with the...

The Transgressive Community

Click title to watch video.

 

Trey Pearson – Hey Jesus (Official Video)

Directed by Trey Pearson and Megan Leigh Barnard
Director of Photography – Megan Leigh Barnard
Produced by Judson Ott Jackson
Edited by Dominique Ulloa

Featuring:
Boyonce
Ty Talley
Jack Feider
Doug Joseph
Phil Wells

SUBSCRIBE TO TREY’S CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/treypearsonof…
‘Hey Jesus’ is available everywhere now, on the album ‘Love Is Love.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4624mk…
Listen on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id13037…
Listen on Apple Music: http:...

The Table Is One

The Table has always been here, as long as I remember, set beneath the trees, seats for everyone who comes. The Table is, in fact, many tables—lined up, one after another, stretching across the grass and around the corners, beyond sight and familiarity—but the Table is one.   I remember my first seat at the Table, snug between my parents—warm, familiar, safe. The Table was home. I belonged. Everyone was family, regardless of blood, and smiles across the broken bread enveloped me in l...